3 Brentwood HS Students Make PBS '20 Under 20' List Of Storytellers

BRENTWOOD, NY — They may be in high school now — but in a few years time, they're sure to grace your television screen.

Mariana Arboleda, Javier Chevalier, and Kimberley Donis, students at Brentwood High Schools, were named on PBS News Hour Student Reporting Lab's "20 Under 20" list, last month.

All three seniors were nominated by their media teacher, Dr. Sequoyah Wharton.

The list highlights 20 "up and coming" storytellers from all across the nation who are under 20 years old.

But out of 20 students named, and seven students listed on the lab's honorable mention, Brentwood High School is the only school in the country to have three nominees for this accolade.

Wharton, who teaches digital filmmaking, broadcast production and studio arts, told Patch that he nominated the students for their hard work and journalism.

"It's just been such a tremendous opportunity for my students," he said.

In addition to their nomination, the students created projects alongside the lab's curriculum in their classes. These projects were then shared with judged for the 20 Under 20 list.

Arboleda, who was named as one of the 20 students, was also a fellow at the PBS 2022 SRL Summer Academy in Arizona, where she helped produce a story about a cowboy camp for foster kids.

"I'm really passionate about telling people's stories," she said. "With journalism and documentaries, that's where you get to tell people's stories and touch people's hearts."

In one challenge, students were asked to tell a story about education and how it impacts their generation. Students could record a video, a podcast, or write an article under 500 words.

Donis, who was named on the honorable mention, said the challenges encouraged her to pursue a career in filmmaking. She reported on whether Advanced Placement classes were "worth it" for students.

"I had to write a script on my own, I edited and record everything," said Donis. "It took a long time, and, but it felt so fulfilling to me. I never really thought about getting the award, I just thought about doing what I love."

A member of the school newspaper, alongside Arboleda as editor-in-chief, she is set to also report a story on nature and the benefits of outdoor activities, such as walking.

Chevalier's stories focused on both the future of voting, and on student mental health in a podcast format. The senior told Patch he wishes to pursue a career in mass media communications, broadcasting, and/or journalism.

Both he and Arboleda were on a recent a panel of students at Twitter HQ in New York for NAMLE’s Media Literacy Week, and spoke about the future of news.

For Brentwood to be represented in such a competitive list, Chevalier said, is a special thing.

"I feel like sometimes we're always looked over, even though we have a lot of great accomplishments," he said. "So when I saw my name there, I was just surprised that they actually recognized me. It just felt like great."